New carpark among major town upgrades

Further works are expected at the new amenity.

Lighting is to be installed at the entrance to the new carpark in Virginia.

The carpark, made up of more than 70 spaces, is located off Main Street on a one hectare site between the street and Lough Ramor.

The facility was demanded in a bid to free up on-street parking for shoppers and people visiting businesses by providing more space for people parking in Virginia and commuting by bus.

Electric car chargers and bicycle parking were also included.

Local Cllr TP O’Reilly (FG) called on the local Municipal District to install lighting in the alleyway leading from the street to the car park, saying he’d heard concerns about how dark the area can be at night.

Funding will be provided for the works under the Town Payments Scheme.

It’s hoped that work can now progress on the planned streetscape works for the town. Cavan County Council aims to improve safety and the overall aesthetic of the main thoroughfare in a €3.5m project.

The opening of the car park was one of a number of new developments in Virginia and surrounding areas over the course of the year.

A new lakeside amenity area at Lough Ramor was opened by Minister Heather Humphreys in July after the Virginia Development Association and Tidy Towns campaigned for improvements at the lake shore.

The new fire station in the town was opened in late 2019.